The God Who Sees

The God Who Sees

She [Hagar] gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen^[a] the One who sees me.”

Genesis 16:13 NIV

Here’s the thing about life. It’s going to be hard sometimes. The end. Thanks for reading. Oh, by the way, feel free to have that printed on a T-shirt.

Do you know the story of Hagar? Her story began when God promised Abram an heir, yet his wife, Sarai, had yet to get pregnant after many years of trying. Sarai decided she was going to help God out and had her maidservant, Hagar, conceive a child with her husband Abram. Shockingly, the plan didn’t go so well, and Sarai became terribly jealous of Hagar and mistreated her, causing Hagar to run away. Who could’ve seen that coming besides everyone involved? But you know, I have trouble judging Sarai because I too have made some really bad decisions on an impulse to help God out. Because, you know, He’s just the Creator of the universe and probably has needed my help. Right?

Anyway, Hagar ran away with her son, Ishmael, and found herself in the middle of a desert with no food or water. Hagar felt that all hope was gone when, suddenly, an angel of the Lord showed up. He told her what to do, and she knew that God hadn’t forgotten her. And so she gave God the name El Roi, which means “the God Who Sees.” She’s the only person in the whole Bible to give God a name. I think it says a lot about the heart of God that He met her there in the desert, in the midst of her hopelessness. Hagar was a minor character in the unfolding story of Abraham, yet in God’s economy she was no less important. God saw her. And God provided for her.

Maybe, like me, you feel like your life is small potatoes in the grand scope of all God has to deal with. I’m just an average guy, a man trying to be the best husband for his wife, a son trying to care for an aging mother, a granddad trying to be a cool Pappy to my grandkids and love God and teach His people to walk humbly with Him. Does any of that really matter in light of all that’s happening in the world?

Hagar’s story is a reminder to me, and it should be to you, that we serve El Roi, the God Who Sees. He sees all the small details of our lives. He sees our hopes, our dreams, our heartbreaks, our triumphs, and our struggles. He sees who we are, who we hope to be, and who we can become. It can be so easy to feel that we’re overlooked as we just go about our daily activities like laundry, grocery shopping, bill paying, and going to work . . . but we have a God who sees us.

And if we believe He sees us, then what’s the point in stressing about figuring life out as if we’re on our own? Let’s admit that we don’t have all the answers. We don’t have to come up with some grand scheme because we have a God who sees us and wants to be a part of everything we do and everything we are. He meets us in the deserts of our life and promises to give us everything we need.

Thanks for reading Pastor Dale’s Mid-Week Encouragement.  It’s not copyrighted so feel free to share it with someone who needs encouraged today. And, if you’re a regular attender of the Mt. Laurel Church of God, why not consider reading Luke 1:68-79 to get yourself ready to hear God’s message through Pastor Dale this coming Sunday, November 23?

Called to know the Way, go the Way, and show you the Way,

^{Pastor Dale}

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this message with anyone you choose. And if you'd like to receive PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send an email to (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.